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January 22, 2007 3 Shvat, 5767 Dear Praying Friends,
Thank you, thank you, thank you all so much who have sent us words of encouragement, blessing, affirmation, and appreciation. Thank you, thank you, each and every one that has prayed and upheld us before the Lord. Day by day we find ourselves in a fierce battle for the faith to stand in the face of the Spirit's working in our lives. Surely our ability to hold up under the penetrating light of the Spirit of Truth is a function of your prayers and intercessions on our behalf.
On one hand, this moment is an excruciating, devastating, and humiliating gathering together of some of our worst fears. Oh yes, we are most definitely being undone. But the stripping away of our flesh is leaving us more healed and hopeful than broken and despondent, with an ever-quickening wild hope of beholding God's glory. When God speaks, no matter how hard, shaking, or breaking the word, it is always filled with life and love.
The Lord has opened the way for us to go to the States in February to visit Arni's Mom and then to have a week of intensive counseling and ministry with a uniquely-gifted professional. Though we are receiving much in our times with God, we believe that there are connections to be made between fruit and roots that are yet beyond our understanding. We have the sense that this is also an appointed time to be with Mom and very likely the time for her salvation. (Arni’s Mom wants us to come so much that she is paying for our tickets. She has softened towards talking about “real” things since Yonit’s Mom went home to be with the Lord). We'll be with her from February 11-18th, and in counseling from the 19th-23rd. Oh, how we covet your prayers during those days.
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Shifting our gaze off into another direction, away from the inner workings of the Spirit, we find ourselves at a Red Sea crossing with the enemy's army hot on our heels. Our cry must at times have sounded at least a little like the children of the Exodus. How did we get here? Were there not enough graves in Egypt? Is this our end? We are exhorting our souls...GIVE HIM GLORY. GIVE HIM PRAISE. HE IS FAITHFUL. HE IS WORTHY. HE IS GOD. And at the same time madly searching for the rod whose lifting will signal the sea to open.
The specific subject here is one of a financial nature. We have a special need for some special gifts to get us to the other side of this month's swirling waters. We have no problem to stand before you confessing character flaws and repenting for falling short. It is a different matter to stand before our landlord, to whom we have testified of the abundant grace of our God to provide for what He has birthed, and not be able to fulfill our obligations. This is about more than our reputation. It could leave a black mark in their souls next to our testimony. Would you please pray about giving a special gift to help us cross over? Perhaps you could also pray about making a commitment to stand with us through the first half of this year.
We are having a Board meeting this Friday to pray into the changes that have already taken place and seek God for direction, clarification, and confirmation for the future. We so need and appreciate your prayers at this time!
May God bless you from Zion! Your servants… For the Glory of His Name, Arni and Yonit |